“Of _Phillip Sparow_ the lamentable fate, The dolefull desteny, and the carefull chaunce, Dyuysed by Skelton after the funerall rate; _Yet sum there be therewith that take greuaunce_, _And grudge therat with frownyng countenaunce_; But what of that? hard it is to please all men; Who list amende it, let hym set to his penne.”[94] That a portion of the following passage in Barclay’s _Fourth Egloge_ was levelled at Skelton, appears highly probable; “Another thing yet is greatly more damnable: Of rascolde poetes yet is a shamfull rable, Which voyde of wisedome presumeth to indite, Though they haue scantly the cunning of a snite;[95] And to what vices that princes moste intende, Those dare these fooles solemnize and commende. Then is he decked as _Poete laureate_, When stinking Thais made him her graduate: When Muses rested, she did her season note, And she with Bacchus her camous[96] did promote. Such rascolde drames, promoted by Thais, Bacchus, Licoris, or yet by Testalis, Or by suche other newe forged Muses nine, Thinke in their mindes for to haue wit diuine; They laude their verses, they boast, they vaunt and iet, Though all their cunning be scantly worth a pet: If they haue smelled the artes triuiall, They count them Poetes hye and heroicall. Such is their foly, so foolishly they dote, Thinking that none can their playne errour note: Yet be they foolishe, auoyde of honestie, Nothing seasoned with spice of grauitie, Auoyde of pleasure, auoyde of eloquence, With many wordes, and fruitlesse of sentence; Unapt to learne, disdayning to be taught, Their priuate pleasure in snare hath them so caught; And worst yet of all, they count them excellent, Though they be fruitlesse, rashe and improuident. To such ambages who doth their minde incline, They count all other as priuate[97] of doctrine, And that the faultes which be in them alone, Also be common in other men eche one.”[98] In the _Garlande of Laurell_ we are told by Skelton, that among the famous writers of all ages and nations, whom he beheld in his vision, was “a frere of Fraunce men call _sir Gagwyne_, That frownyd on me full angerly and pale;”[99] and in the catalogue of his own writings which is subsequently given in the same poem, he mentions a piece which he had composed against this personage, “_The Recule ageinst Gaguyne_ of the Frenshe nacyoun.”[100] Robert Gaguin was minister-general of the Maturines, and enjoyed great reputation for abilities and learning.[101] He wrote various works; the most important of which is his _Compendium supra Francorum gestis_ from the time of Pharamond to the author’s age. In 1490 he was sent by Charles the Eighth as ambassador to England, where he probably became personally acquainted with Skelton.